p.2 #1 · Advice on Telephoto Options While Waiting for RF 300-600/800 F/X(?)/Looking to buy
If you can find a nice used 400mm F4DO2 jump on it.. I loved that lens and it performed very well on my R5. I really regret selling that lens and have always hoped Canon would bring out a new updated RF version of it. Replaced it with the 100-500mm but have never really warmed up to that lens. I feel it has to many compromises for the inflated price. Another lens that would fit your parameters in every way except maybe weight is the 200-400mm. That's an amazing lens and there are some sweet deals out there on that lens.. Super sharp and really handy having the built in converter.....
p.2 #3 · Advice on Telephoto Options While Waiting for RF 300-600/800 F/X(?)/Looking to buy
Another vote for the EF 300mm markII. Best lens I own, in league with RF 85mm 1.2 (at least on my R5). Fast,sharp, works awfully well with the 1.4 Mark III EF extender, and if you get the exposure right requires very little editing IMO. Handholding for an hour or even two is not verboten, and I'm well into my 70's, but your mileage ... as they say may vary. Won't get you to 500mm tho.
p.2 #4 · Advice on Telephoto Options While Waiting for RF 300-600/800 F/X(?)/Looking to buy
enriquehoja wrote:
@arbitrage@ — really appreciated your comment about the EF 300 f/2.8. Would love to hear more about how it handles on an RF body, especially with Canon TCs.
I’m seriously considering it as my main wildlife/tele setup right now, paired with a 70-200 for closer subjects and compressed landscapes. I shoot on an R6, so I’m particularly curious about AF performance, responsiveness, and sharpness with extenders in real-world use.
If you’ve run that combo or have anything to share about how it performs adapted, I’d really appreciate it.
All of the ~2011 and later teles work great on RF bodies. Some of the older ones are linited in framing rate in some modes.
I really like the 500/4 II, 300/2.8 II on the R5 and R5 II. The Canon brand RF-EF adapter and Canon EF 1.4x III TCs are no problem for rigidity. However, I've not found the 600/4 IS III to be as good with the EF 1.4x as the 600/4 RF is with the RF 1.4x. One of the advantges of the EF teles is that they work well with TCs+extension tubes. The RF TCs are right near the image plane and don't like extension tubes much.
p.2 #5 · Advice on Telephoto Options While Waiting for RF 300-600/800 F/X(?)/Looking to buy
enriquehoja wrote:
@arbitrage@ — really appreciated your comment about the EF 300 f/2.8. Would love to hear more about how it handles on an RF body, especially with Canon TCs.
I’m seriously considering it as my main wildlife/tele setup right now, paired with a 70-200 for closer subjects and compressed landscapes. I shoot on an R6, so I’m particularly curious about AF performance, responsiveness, and sharpness with extenders in real-world use.
If you’ve run that combo or have anything to share about how it performs adapted, I’d really appreciate it.
I never owned the 300II when I shot MILCs. But it did very, very well on my DSLRs with the 2xTC and MILC AF is always more accurate since it AFs on the sensor and doesn't need the MFA we so often had to fiddle with on the DSLRs. So in theory the AF on MILCs should be even better than what I got on my DSLRs. The IQ was great.
The 400DOII I did adapt to MILCs. Mostly to my A9 but I also adapted it to my R5.
Here are a three photos with the 400DOII on the R5 with the 2xTC for 800 f/8:
p.2 #6 · Advice on Telephoto Options While Waiting for RF 300-600/800 F/X(?)/Looking to buy
Thanks to everyone who weighed in — your real-world feedback was hugely helpful.
After considering all the options (and dodging the RF hype train for now), I decided to go with a used EF 400mm f/4 DO II as my long lens, paired with an EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS II for mid-range and flexibility. I liked the lightness and portability of this lens, paired with its IQ and reach, beyond the 300/2.8 (but it was a hard choice). I also sent out offers for the EF 1.4x and 2x III TCs to round out the setup.
This gives me sharpness, reach, and speed — with reasonable weight and proven IQ — while leaving room to watch how Canon’s RF supertele and APS-C body lineup evolves.
Appreciate all the insights. Will report back after some field use.
p.2 #7 · Advice on Telephoto Options While Waiting for RF 300-600/800 F/X(?)/Looking to buy
enriquehoja wrote:
Thanks to everyone who weighed in — your real-world feedback was hugely helpful.
After considering all the options (and dodging the RF hype train for now), I decided to go with a used EF 400mm f/4 DO II as my long lens, paired with an EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS II for mid-range and flexibility. I liked the lightness and portability of this lens, paired with its IQ and reach, beyond the 300/2.8 (but it was a hard choice). I also sent out offers for the EF 1.4x and 2x III TCs to round out the setup.
This gives me sharpness, reach, and speed — with reasonable weight and proven IQ — while leaving room to watch how Canon’s RF supertele and APS-C body lineup evolves.
Appreciate all the insights. Will report back after some field use....Show more →
The 400 DO II is a great choice. Now you just need to replace your EF 70-200II with the lightweight and compact RF 70-200 f/2.8 and you'll be loving your kit for portability.
